The bill amends section 715.72 of the Revised Code to facilitate the establishment of joint economic development districts (JEDDs) by two or more municipalities without requiring the involvement of a township. It clarifies that a "contracting party" can be a single municipal corporation or township, and allows counties to be included as contracting parties under specific conditions. The bill emphasizes that the territories of the contracting parties must be contiguous and introduces new criteria for creating JEDDs, including the stipulation that at least one contracting party must be a municipal corporation. Key changes include the deletion of references to "one or more" municipal corporations and townships, replacing them with "a" municipal corporation or township.

Additionally, the bill outlines the governance structure for JEDDs, specifying that board members cannot serve more than two consecutive terms and that their membership does not constitute holding a public office. It establishes a process for business owners to file complaints regarding income tax exemptions and prohibits annexation proceedings during the contract's effective period without consent from relevant township boards. The bill also allows contracting parties to negotiate zoning and land use regulations while maintaining existing municipal regulations, and it prohibits tax exemptions on properties within the district without the consent of all contracting parties. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance transparency, streamline the approval process, and promote collaboration among municipalities for economic development initiatives.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 715.72